Firefighter fundraising ideas.. please help..?

Question

hi, i am in my local volunteer fire department. we are soley funded by subscriptions (meaning people in our community pay a 25$ yearly due-- alot of whom do not pay)

we are looking for ideas to raise money so we can get better equipment, gear, repair trucks, and other things needed so we can do more for our community..

i have a few ideas, but the more i have, the better it might help our department.. thank you in advance!!!

Answer 1

I'm also having the same problem - I'm the treasurer of our local volunteer fire station. So far i've thought up selling food at the local fair we have every year we also sell bracelets, shirts, and we had a cake walk at our open house and a silent auction - We do most at our open houses, We just got a new fire station so we had a lot of opportunities- We had a grill out over the summer and charged 1 dollar for a hotdog, 2 for a brat, and 3 for a hamburger, cheese burger. And so on - ALl the fire fighters made the food and we had it in a local park - A lot of people showed up but it might work better if you live in a small town - If you come up with any other ideas you should contact me - maybe we can help each other? My e-mail's [e-mail]

Answer 2

Work with your local government officials to file grant applications on your behalf with the state; they should be helping you to get state grants you need for equipment, gear, etc.

Consider a "firefighter workday", where community members pledge a certain amount of money to the firehouse in exchange for the firemen mowing their grass, washing their windows, washing their cars, walking dogs, etc.

Make sure for any fund raising event you do that you post about it to your web site and let the press know, both two weeks before and, for television stations, the day before (via fax) -- press coverage is a great way to raise awareness.

Make sure your web site has information on how many fires and other calls your station goes on every year, to show that the firehouse is really needed.

Answer 3

Hello,

I've recently tried a company called fundraising2u.com

they sell internet discount cards very unique item.

It worked out well for our group.

You should check them out.

Answer 4

Point out to your local insurance companies that if you don't get funding you quit.

And do it.

This will raise such a stink with your business community that you will suddenly find yourselves fully funded and sitting in the catbird seat.

The real answer is very basic, quit working for free.

Yes we all wan't to help our meighboirs, but they need to want the help. and if they are not paying then obviously they don't feel it is a worthwhile venture.

Maybe viewing the alternatives as a fact facing them will wake them up.

But you need to be ready as a group to tell the town council to keep their trucks and the insurance to increase their rates.